Field days on nitrogen research for profitability and water quality

Iowa State University Extension will host a series of field days in June designed to help farmers understand how nitrogen research is conducted with goals to improve both farm profitability and water quality. The field days are part of ISU Extension’s “Nitrogen and Water Week”, which runs from June 27-29. June 28 is the date for the Northeast Research and Demonstration Farm at Nashua.

Five field days will be held throughout the state at Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms to view university research facilities and field trials that evaluate nitrogen management. Participants will tour research trials for crop rotations, N application timing and rate, cover crops, manure use, nitrification inhibitors, bioreactor and more. Topics for indoor discussion will include how the research data being collected is used to calculate N fertilizer recommendations, and help define best management practices to improve water quality.

The program runs from 9:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. with lunch provided after the program. Registration is 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. at the Research Farms Headquarters. ISU Extension agronomists and agricultural engineers will conduct the program. The format provides for four 30-minute sessions during the day: (1) Discuss water quality research taking place at the farm; (2) View agronomic plots and treatment effects on tile drainage (3) Discuss impacts of various N management practices; (4) Summarize N recommendations for profit and water quality.

For a complete explanation of the program, registration, dates and locations, go to:  http://www.aep.iastate.edu/nitrogen/  The program provides CCA credits: 1.5 SW, 0.5 NM.